water heater issues

tabitha guillory · 12-31-2012, 10:15 AM

We have an 04 cardinal and suburban water heater but now is leaking. I looked at several pictures, parts and descriptions. Would the tank be leaking. Does the foam jacket have anything to do with it and is it possible to get replacement tank with out spending a fortune? Read that they are lined with porcelain and are steel. I didn't think these rusted.

Dave_Monica · 12-31-2012, 10:36 AM

Welcome to the forums!

Are you absolutely sure that it's not a piping connection that's leaking? You can try shutting off the water supply and bleeding off the line pressure by opening a faucet. Hopefully you can dry up any water in the area and then check again in a couple of hours. If you can get some food coloring into the water system, it may make the identification of the leak easier.

Dave

tabitha guillory · 12-31-2012, 10:41 AM

Thanks so much. We were only able to pull off the face from outside, didn't see any connections leaking. How do you get into the tank to add the food color? Is it accessible from the water heater itself?

Dave_Monica · 12-31-2012, 10:47 AM

Have you looked in behind the WH. It's probably accessible by removing a panel in a cabinet.

You could put the food coloring into the water hose before connecting it to the camper then run the faucets 'til you see color at each.

Dave

tabitha guillory · 12-31-2012, 10:50 AM

It looks like it's coming from out the bottom of the water heater. Thank you, we will give the food color a try and see if we can see a more specific place where the water is leaking.

VinceU · 01-06-2013, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabitha guillory

It looks like it's coming from out the bottom of the water heater. Thank you, we will give the food color a try and see if we can see a more specific place where the water is leaking.

If still trying to locate leak, you can pressurize water system with small air compressor. Use windex or soapy water in area of suspect. It will show very easy. Also Atwood sells spare tanks, Suburban does not.

popbreed · 01-10-2013, 12:33 AM

If you have checked the two fittings on the inside end and found nothinhg and nop lerak around the anode drain, check the electric heater element. You will have to remove the cover over the element on the outside end. Make sure 110 volt breaker is OFF!!! I recently was sure it was the tank leaking but it ended up being the electric element leaking. It has a rubber gasket and the gasket leaked after 9 months of not leaking????

brw549 · 01-10-2013, 08:37 AM

another easy way to add the water color or check for water leaks at the beginning of the season is to add water to your holding tank. turn on the water pump and bleed the lines of air. when the lines are full the water pump will turn off. Let it sit and listen for the pump to turn on. If the pressure drops and the pump cycles you have a leak somewhere. I also use this method when I winterize the water system with RV antifreeze. If you use the air pressure method as noted by VinceU make sure you don't exceed the recommended pressure limits of the water system (Learned that one the hard way)...blowed off three connectors : (

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